Sayings · LT901

Idioms

Classical four-character idiomatic expressions derived from historical masterworks.

1231works

13dynasties

230authors

Tang

100 works

618–907

  1. A Thousand-Weight Hanging by a HairHan YuA great weight hanging by a single hair; a situation of extreme peril.
  2. Rare in a Thousand YearsHan YuSo rare it may not come once in a thousand years; a golden opportunity.
  3. Unable to Hold Back a SmileZhao LinCannot help laughing; unable to suppress a smile.
  4. Common Sight to the MinisterMeng QiSo familiar to the minister it causes no surprise; commonplace.
  5. One Arrow, Two EaglesLi YanshouHitting two eagles with one arrow; achieving two aims with one action.
  6. Ends of the Earth, Corners of the SeaHan YuThe remotest corners of the world; places very far apart.
  7. One Act, Two GainsFang Xuanling et al.Gaining two benefits from a single action.
  8. Treat All AlikeHan YuTo treat everyone equally without favoritism.
  9. Charge Again, Sharpen AgainHan Yu & Meng JiaoFighting cocks whet their beaks before each bout; keep up the effort again and again.
  10. All-EmbracingAnonymousEmbracing every phenomenon; all-inclusive and rich in content.
  11. Evenly MatchedLu GuimengHard to tell which is higher or lower; evenly matched.
  12. Pillowing on a Spear Awaiting DawnFang Xuanling et al. (comp.)Sleeping with head on a spear, awaiting dawn; ever vigilant and ready for battle.
  13. Clinging to Error Without AwakeningYao SilianStubbornly persisting in a mistaken course and refusing to see reason.
  14. Steeped by What One Sees and HearsHan YuUnconsciously influenced by what one constantly hears and sees.
  15. Failing on the Verge of SuccessFang Xuanling et al.Failing just when success was within reach.
  16. Living Under Another's RoofLi YanshouTo live in dependence on others; also, to imitate others without originality.
  17. Light Carriage on a Familiar RoadHan YuDriving a light carriage on a familiar road; doing something with ease through experience.
  18. A Moth Flying into the FlameYao SilianA moth darting into the flame; courting one's own destruction.
  19. A Dream of NankeLi GongzuoA dream of glory under a southern branch; an illusory fortune or empty joy.
  20. Hard to Dismount a TigerFang Xuanling et al. (comp.)Riding a tiger and unable to get off; caught in a course of action one cannot abandon.
  21. Penetrating Three Fen into the WoodZhang HuaiguanBrushstrokes biting deep into the wood; forceful calligraphy, or penetrating insight and description.
  22. Splitting Apart at the Blade's TouchFang Xuanling et al. (comp.)Like bamboo splitting at the blade; once the key issue is solved, the rest follows easily.
  23. Meeting Like Drifting DuckweedWang BoWe have met like duckweed drifting on the water, all of us guests far from home.
  24. Outstanding People, Inspired LandWang BoIts people are outstanding and its land inspired: Xu Ru was the guest for whom Chen Fan let down his special couch.
  25. A Life Full of MisfortuneWang BoThe times have not been kind, and the road of my fate has been full of mishaps.
  26. As Long as Heaven and EarthBai JuyiEven heaven and earth, long as they last, will one day end, but this regret will linger on forever without end.
  27. Natural BeautyBai JuyiHer natural beauty could not stay hidden; one day she was chosen to stand at the sovereign's side.
  28. Riding the Wind, Breaking the WavesLi BaiA day will come when I ride the long wind and break the waves, and hoist my sails straight across the vast sea.
  29. Climb One Storey HigherWang ZhihuanIf you wish to see a thousand li to the horizon, climb one more storey of the tower.
  30. The Silkworm Spins Until It DiesLi ShangyinThe spring silkworm spins its silk until it dies; the candle's tears dry only when it turns to ash.
  31. Hooked Hearts and Clashing HornsDu MuEach building embraced the lie of the land, their hearts hooked together and their corners locked like horns.
  32. Think of Danger in Times of PeaceWei ZhengNot to think of danger while living in safety, nor to restrain extravagance with thrift, nor to make one's virtue deep, nor to let reason master desire: this is like cutting a tree's roots and hoping it will flourish, or blocking a spring and wanting the stream to run far.
  33. Harsh Government Is Fiercer Than a TigerLiu ZongyuanConfucius said: 'Harsh government is fiercer than a tiger.'
  34. A Letter from Home Is Worth Ten Thousand in GoldDu FuThe beacon fires have burned for three months on end; a letter from home is worth ten thousand in gold.
  35. Earthly Treasures, Heavenly GemsWang BoThe finest things of this land are treasures of heaven; the dragon-light of its swords shoots up to the realm of the Ox and the Dipper;
  36. A Glance Back and a SmileBai JuyiWhen she turned her eyes back with a smile, a hundred charms were born; all the powdered and painted ladies of the six palaces lost their color.
  37. Called for a Thousand TimesBai JuyiOnly after a thousand calls and ten thousand pleas did she come out, still holding the pipa to hide half her face.
  38. Passing On the Way and Teaching LearningHan YuA teacher is one who passes on the Way, teaches learning and resolves doubts.
  39. Mastery Comes from DiligenceHan YuThe Master of the Academy entered the Imperial College at dawn, gathered the students below the hall and instructed them: 'Learning is perfected through diligence and wasted by play;
  40. Harder Than Climbing to the Blue SkyLi BaiThe hardship of the road to Shu is harder than climbing to the blue sky!
  41. The Face and the Peach BlossomsCui HuOn this day last year, within this gate, a face and the peach blossoms glowed red against each other.
  42. Swaying and Shifting With the SeasonsLiu ZongyuanSwaying and luxuriant, they shift and change with the seasons.
  43. Praised by Every Mouth in UnisonHan YuThe great ministers and men of power vied to have him come from their own gates, and praised and recommended him with one voice.
  44. Gathering and Storing Every Kind of RemedyHan YuJade, cinnabar and rare herbs, cow's urine, puffballs and old drum hide: to gather and store them all, so nothing is lacking when needed, is the mark of a good physician.
  45. A Thousand Villages and Ten Thousand Hamlets OvergrownDu FuHave you not heard that in the two hundred prefectures east of the mountains, a thousand villages and ten thousand hamlets are overgrown with thorns?
  46. Turning Away as if Never AcquaintedHan YuOnce faced with a petty conflict of interest, no bigger than a hair, they turn their eyes away as if they had never met.
  47. Explaining by Word and Pointing with the HandHan YuThose who learned to write under Zihou's spoken explanations and pointing hand all produced work of real discipline and merit.
  48. The Marshal's Blue Robe Soaked with TearsBai JuyiOf all who wept, who wept the most? The marshal of Jiangzhou, his blue robe soaked through.
  49. Savoring the Blossoms of Fine WritingHan YuSteeped in the rich and mellow, holding the blossoms and chewing the flowers, he writes until his works fill the house.
  50. A Thousand Li Within a Foot's SpanLiu ZongyuanThe rise and fall of the land, its deep hollows and low basins, looked like anthills and burrows; a thousand li lay within a foot's span, packed and layered, with nothing able to hide.
  51. Horns Beginning to ShowHan YuThough still a youth, he was already mature as a grown man; he passed the examination for presented scholars, and his horns stood out clearly.
  52. Night Rain in the Ba MountainsLi ShangyinYou ask when I will return, and I cannot say; night rain in the Ba Mountains swells the autumn pools. When shall we trim the candle by the west window, and talk of this night of rain in the Ba Mountains?
  53. Zhuang Zhou's Dream of the ButterflyLi ShangyinMaster Zhuang, in his dawn dream, was lost in the butterfly; King Wang entrusted his spring heart to the cuckoo.
  54. Mind Gathered, Body DissolvedLiu ZongyuanMy mind gathered, my body dissolved, and I merged silently with all creation.
  55. Touching the Shen and Jing Stars on the Shu RoadLi BaiTouching the Shen stars and passing the Jing, travelers look up and hold their breath, then sit with hand on chest and heave long sighs.
  56. Shelved in an Idle PostHan YuWhenever I act, I draw slander, and a name for it follows; to be put aside in an idle post is no more than my due.
  57. Broken Halberds Sunk in the SandDu MuA broken halberd sunk in the sand, its iron not yet worn away; I clean and polish it myself and know it for a relic of a former age.
  58. Cutting Flowing Water with a Drawn BladeLi BaiDraw a blade to cut the water, and the water flows on faster; raise a cup to drown sorrow, and sorrow grows deeper.
  59. Swearing by Heaven and the Sun with TearsHan YuThey point to heaven and the sun and weep, swearing never to betray each other in life or death, and seem entirely believable.
  60. Lowering the Brows and Bending the Waist to the PowerfulLi BaiHow could I lower my brows and bend my back to serve the mighty, and never be glad at heart?
  61. Zigzagging Like the Dipper, Winding Like a SnakeLiu ZongyuanLooking southwest from the pool, the stream bends like the Dipper and winds like a snake, now glinting, now hidden.
  62. Moon Setting and Crows Cawing by Maple BridgeZhang JiThe moon sets, crows caw, and frost fills the sky; riverside maples and fishing lights face my sleepless sorrow.
  63. Peach Blossom Pool a Thousand Feet DeepLi BaiPeach Blossom Pool is a thousand feet deep, but not as deep as Wang Lun's farewell to me.
  64. This Sorrow Lingers On Without EndBai JuyiHeaven and earth, however long they last, will someday end; but this sorrow goes on and on, with no end at all.
  65. River and Sky Merged in One ColorZhang RuoxuRiver and sky are one color, without a speck of dust; bright and clear in the air hangs a lone wheel of moon.
  66. Plantain and Puffball in the Physician's ChestHan YuPlantain and puffball, the skin of a broken drum, all gathered and stored so that nothing is missing when needed: that is the mark of a good physician.
  67. Firmer of Purpose the Poorer One GrowsWang BoIn poverty one should grow ever firmer, never letting one's ambitions that reach the blue clouds fall.
  68. Red Blossoms Scatter, Green Leaves Start in the WindLiu ZongyuanWhenever the wind comes down from the hills on every side, it shakes the great trees and bends the grasses; red blossoms toss, green leaves start, and a rich fragrance billows up.
  69. Fine Friends Gathered Like CloudsWang BoOn the day of rest, fine friends gather like clouds; welcomed from a thousand li, distinguished guests fill the seats.
  70. Throwing Stones on a Friend Fallen into the PitHan YuWhen a man falls into a pit, they do not lift a hand to save him but push him down and throw stones on him; such people are everywhere.
  71. Fine Jade Grows at LantianLi ShangyinLantian produces jade; it is true indeed.
  72. Deeds Are Accomplished Through Careful ThoughtHan YuLearning is perfected by diligence and ruined by play; conduct is accomplished through thought and ruined by carelessness.
  73. Trimming the Candle Together by the West WindowLi ShangyinWhen shall we trim the candle together by the west window, and talk of this night of rain in the Ba mountains?
  74. Soaring Spirit and Sweeping EloquenceHan YuIn argument he cited past and present, ranging through the classics, histories and philosophers, with soaring spirit and sweeping eloquence, and usually won over all present.
  75. Companions Only in Wine and FeastingHan YuNowadays people living in the same lanes admire and flatter one another, chase one another to food, drink and games, and force smiles to defer to one another.
  76. The Silver River Pours Down from HeavenLi BaiIt flies straight down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way were falling from the ninth heaven.
  77. Stale Phrases Must Be Swept AwayHan YuOnly in removing stale words, how hard, how hard it is!
  78. The Bluebird Diligently Carries WordLi ShangyinFrom here to Mount Penglai the road is not long; bluebird, be diligent and go look in on her for me.
  79. A Hall Full of Distinguished Guests at Prince Teng's PavilionWang BoHosts came a thousand li to welcome us; distinguished friends filled every seat.
  80. The Yellow Crane Gone, Never to ReturnCui HaoThe yellow crane, once gone, never came back; for a thousand years white clouds have drifted on in vain.
  81. Laughing and Talking with Great ScholarsLiu YuxiThose I laugh and talk with are great scholars; none who come and go are unlettered.
  82. One Man Holds the Pass Against Ten ThousandFang Xuanling (comp.)The Sword Gate rises steep and towering; if one man holds the pass, ten thousand cannot force it open.
  83. Teacher of a Single WordQiji (Monk Qiji)In the deep snow of the village ahead, last night a single spray opened.
  84. One Saying Can Make a State FlourishWei ZhengOne saying can make a state flourish: this is what it means.
  85. Neither Arising nor CeasingXuanzang (trans.)All phenomena are marked by emptiness: they neither arise nor cease, are neither defiled nor pure, neither increase nor decrease.
  86. Rising Again from the Eastern HillsFang Xuanling (comp.)You defied the court's summons time and again and lay at ease in the Eastern Hills. People kept saying to one another: if Anshi will not come out, what will become of the common people? Now what will the common people make of you?
  87. Chasing the Deer Across the Central PlainWei ZhengWhen the chase for the deer first began on the central plain, I threw down my brush to serve in the war chariots.
  88. Practising Calligraphy Until the Pond Turned BlackFang Xuanling (comp.)Zhang Zhi practised calligraphy by the pond until its water was all black. If I could be so absorbed in it, I would not necessarily fall behind him.
  89. The Five Aggregates Are All EmptyXuanzang (trans.)When the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practising the profound perfection of wisdom, he saw clearly that the five aggregates are all empty, and passed beyond all suffering and distress.
  90. Immortal Dew and Bright PearlsLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang)Wind in the pines and the moon on the water cannot match his purity and brilliance; how could immortal dew and bright pearls compare with his luminous grace?
  91. Punishing So That Punishment May EndZhangsun Wuji, Yu Zhining (comp.)Therefore it is said: use punishment to end punishment, use killing to end killing.
  92. Killing So That Killing May EndZhangsun Wuji, Yu Zhining (comp.)Therefore it is said: use punishment to end punishment, use killing to end killing.
  93. Winning by Stratagem Instead of BattleFang Xuanling (comp.)So the soldiers made up a ditty about it: 'Using stratagem instead of battle, one is worth ten thousand.'
  94. In the Space of a Glance Down and UpYao ChongWang Yishao said, 'In the space of a glance down and up, it has already become a trace of the past.' How true these words are!
  95. Heeding Only One Side Leaves a Ruler in the DarkWu Jing (comp.)A ruler is clear-sighted because he listens to all sides; he is benighted because he trusts only one.
  96. He Yan, the Young Man Who Seemed PowderedSong Jing (traditionally attributed)He Pingshu was handsome and his face extremely white; Emperor Ming of Wei suspected he wore powder.
  97. All Eight Corners of the World on One TrackFang Xuanling (comp.)We have cleared Liang and Min and embraced Yang and Yue; the eight corners of the world share one track, and auspicious omens keep arriving.
  98. The Orphan Six Chi Tall: Luo Binwang's Call to ArmsLuo BinwangThe earth on the late emperor's grave is not yet dry; to whom is his six-chi orphan entrusted?
  99. Victory Without Blood on the BladesFang Xuanling (comp.)From the time Jun set out from Shu his weapons were never bloodied and no city held out; Xiakou and Wuchang offered no resistance.
  100. Unrivalled in His GenerationFang Xuanling (comp.)At fifteen he practised swordplay; long-armed and a fine archer, he drew a bow of three hundred jin, and in strength and agility he was unrivalled in his generation.